Festival fills the Square

The area’s biggest annual festival – Santa-Cali-Gon Days, held each Labor Day weekend – opens this evening with the carnival on the block bounded by Kansas, Liberty, Walnut and Osage on the south edge of the Independence Square.

The main event, filling up the rest of the Square, kicks off at noon Friday.

“Things are looking really good. I’m pretty excited, actually,” said Lois McDonald, who has been the event’s main organizer for the Independence Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event.

The festival this year has about 60 food vendors, everything from Opti-Dogs to peach floats. Visitors also are drawn to the several tents full of about 300 booths with crafters and artisans.

The chamber also has made some changes. There is a fourth entertainment stage, the VIP section at the main stage is now off to the side for better access for fans, and sidewalks on the Square are being left open to make it easier for pedestrians to get around. There’s a car show on Kansas Avenue between Main and Osage.

A fourth stage, at Maple and Osage, is called Locally Grown Market and Music. The Independence farmers market sets up there in the morning, and then local bands take the stage in the evening. It’s organized by Chris and Havilah Bruders of Cadillac Flambe.

Much, however, is the same as festivalgoers have come to expect. The event is free, except for rides and other attractions at the carnival. Main stage headliners include country music star Joe Diffie on Friday night and rising star Brett Eldredge on Saturday.

• No pets on the festival grounds. McDonald points out that the busy atmosphere with lots of people around isn’t ideal for pets anyway.

• Carnival hours are 6 p.m. to midnight today, noon to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. There are no carnival coupons this year, but wristbands are $22 per day. Buy them at the carnival.

• Several churches, Scout troops and others charge for parking near the Square. The chamber says that’s typically $10 to $15. There’s also shuttle parking in two places. Park for free in the large lot behind the Community of Christ Auditorium (Walnut Avenue and River Boulevard) or at William Chrisman High School (Noland Road and U.S. 24). The shuttle ride costs $1. The shuttles run about every 15 minutes and are handicap-accessible. There’s no shuttle from Chrisman on Friday.